Electronic device including thin housing, and manufacturing method therefor

ABSTRACT

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing comprising a first surface opened while facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and one or more side parts disposed in different directions between the first surface and the second surface, a nonconductive structure disposed along at least a portion of the at least one side wall within the housing, and one or more stop recesses including at least one recess formed on one surface of the one or more side parts and a portion of the nonconductive structure surrounding a peripheral portion of the at least one recess.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 16/779,950, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, which is a continuationapplication of prior application Ser. No. 16/300,397, filed on Nov. 9,2018, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,588,226 on Mar. 10, 2020,which is a U.S. National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 ofInternational application number PCT/KR2018/002622, filed on Mar. 6,2018, which is based on and claimed priority of a Korean patentapplication number 10-2017-0031395, filed on Mar. 13, 2017, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a thin housing.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, portable electronic devices in various forms, such assmartphones and tablet personal computers (PCs), have been increasinglydistributed. The portable electronic devices may be manufactured byusing housings of various materials. In relation to manufacturing ofhousings of relatively thin thicknesses, at least portions of thehousings of the portable electronic devices have recently been formed ofmetallic materials. Various machining processes may be applied to thehousings of metallic materials in the manufacturing processes.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination hasbeen made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

When the housings of electronic devices of the related art aremanufactured, the initial thicknesses of the housings have a specificsize or more in consideration of various processes. In this way, thehousings are machined much in the housing manufacturing processes.Accordingly, in the processes of manufacturing the housings of theelectronic devices, machining time is long and manufacturing costs orcosts for raw materials are high.

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentionedproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to providean electronic device having a metallic thin housing that may be easilyelectrically post-processed.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device isprovided. The electronic device includes a housing including a firstsurface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a seconddirection that is opposite to the first direction, and one or more sideparts disposed in a space between the first surface and the secondsurface, at least some of the side parts and at least a portion of thesecond surface of the housing being formed of a metallic material, atouchscreen display, at least a portion of which is exposed through aportion of the first surface, an internal nonconductive structureattached along at least some of the side parts inside the housing, awireless communication circuit disposed inside the housing, and aprocessor electrically connected to the wireless communication circuitand the display and disposed inside the housing. The side part includesa first inner surface facing a third direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction. The internal nonconductivestructure includes a first opening formed at a portion of the firstinner surface of the side part in the third direction. The side partincludes an anodizing layer formed at a portion of the first innersurface, and the anodizing layer includes a recess, through which aportion of the first inner surface is exposed.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronicdevice is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including afirst surface opened while facing a first direction, a second surfacefacing a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, andone or more side parts disposed in different directions between thefirst surface and the second surface, a nonconductive structure disposedalong at least a portion of the at least one side wall within thehousing, and one or more stop recesses including at least one recessformed on one surface of the one or more side parts and a portion of thenonconductive structure surrounding a peripheral portion of the at leastone recess.

As mentioned above, according to various embodiments, based on themetallic thin housing, time and material costs consumed when a housingis manufactured may be reduced and the housing may be stablyelectrically post-processed.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an external appearance of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of the shape of a housing of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a cutaway surface of oneside of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a partial area of one sideof a housing of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure in more detail;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a housing, to which a jig iscoupled, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a portion of a housing, to which a jig iscoupled, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a stop recess of a multi-baraccording to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating another example of a stop recess of amulti-bar according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a process of forming a stop recessaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a method of manufacturing ahousing of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a housing process of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of another form of a stoprecess according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of forming an antennaarticulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of an antenna articulationpart of a housing according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an example of a section of an antennaarticulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure; and

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an example of a method of forming anantenna articulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of variousembodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the various embodiments describedherein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of thedisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of thedisclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

In the disclosure, the expressions “have,” “may have,” “include.” and“comprise” or “may include” and “may comprise” used herein indicateexistence of corresponding features (e.g., components such as numericvalues, functions, operations, or parts) but do not exclude presence ofadditional features.

In the disclosure, the expressions “A or B,” “at least one of A or/andB,” or “one or more of A or/and B” and the like may include any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example,the term “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A orB” may refer to all of the case (1) where at least one A is included,the case (2) where at least one B is included, or the case (3) whereboth of at least one A and at least one B are included.

The terms, such as “first,” “second,” and the like used in the variousembodiments may be used to refer to various components regardless of theorder and/or the priority and may not limit the correspondingcomponents. The terms may be used to distinguish the relevant componentsfrom other components. For example, “a first user device” and “a seconduser device” indicate different user devices regardless of the order orpriority. For example, without departing the scope of the disclosure, afirst component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly,a second component may be referred to as a first component.

It will be understood that when a component (e.g., a first component) isreferred to as being “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to”or “connected to” another component (e.g., a second component), it maybe directly coupled with/to or connected to the other component or anintervening component (e.g., a third component) may be present. Incontrast, when a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to asbeing “directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” anothercomponent (e.g., a second component), it should be understood that thereare no intervening component (e.g., a third component).

According to the situation, the expression “configured to” used in thedisclosure may be used as, for example, the expression “suitable for,”“having the capacity to,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “made to,” or“capable of” The term “configured to” must not mean only “specificallydesigned to” in hardware. Instead, the expression “a device configuredto” may mean that the device is “capable of” operating together withanother device or other parts. For example, a “processor configured to(or set to) perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor (e.g.,an embedded processor) for performing a corresponding operation or ageneric-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or anapplication processor) which performs corresponding operations byexecuting one or more software programs which are stored in a memorydevice.

All the terms used herein, which include technical or scientific terms,may have the same meaning that is generally understood by a personskilled in the art. It will be further understood that terms, which aredefined in a dictionary and commonly used, should also be interpreted asis customary in the relevant related art and not in an idealized oroverly formal unless expressly so defined in various embodiments of thedisclosure. In some cases, even if terms are terms which are defined inthe disclosure, they may not be interpreted to exclude embodiments ofthe disclosure.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosuremay include at least one of, for example, smartphones, tablet personalcomputers (PCs), mobile phones, video telephones, electronic bookreaders, desktop PCs, laptop PCs, netbook computers, workstations,servers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players(PMPs), moving picture experts group phase 1 or phase 2 (MPEG-1 orMPEG-2) audio layer 3 (MP3) players, mobile medical devices, cameras, orwearable devices (e.g., a smart glasses, or head-mounted-devices(HMDs)), an electronic apparel, an electronic bracelets, an electronicnecklaces, an electronic appcessory, an electronic tattoo, a smartmirror or a smart watch.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may be a smarthome appliance. The home appliances may include at least one of, forexample, televisions (TVs), digital versatile disc (DVD) players,audios, refrigerators, air conditioners, cleaners, ovens, microwaveovens, washing machines, air cleaners, set-top boxes, home automationcontrol panels, security control panels, TV boxes (e.g., SamsungHomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), game consoles (e.g., Xbox™orPlayStation™), electronic dictionaries, electronic keys, camcorders,electronic picture frames, and the like.

According to another embodiment, an electronic device may include atleast one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medicalmeasurement devices (e.g., a blood glucose monitoring device, aheartbeat measuring device, a blood pressure measuring device, a bodytemperature measuring device, and the like), a magnetic resonanceangiography (MRA), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computedtomography (CT), scanners, and ultrasonic devices), navigation devices,global positioning system (GPS) receiver, event data recorders (EDRs),flight data recorders (FDRs), vehicle infotainment devices, electronicequipment for vessels (e.g., navigation systems and gyrocompasses),avionics, security devices, head units for vehicles, industrial or homerobots, automated teller machines (ATMs), points of sales (POSs) ofstores, or internet of things (e.g., light bulbs, various sensors,electric or gas meters, sprinkler devices, fire alarms, thermostats,street lamps, toasters, exercise equipment, hot water tanks, heaters,boilers, and the like).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may include at leastone of parts of furniture or buildings/structures, electronic boards,electronic signature receiving devices, projectors, or various measuringinstruments (e.g., water meters, electricity meters, gas meters, or wavemeters, and the like). According to various embodiments, the electronicdevice may be one of the above-described devices or a combinationthereof. An electronic device according to an embodiment may be aflexible electronic device. Furthermore, an electronic device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure may not be limited to theabove-described electronic devices and may include other electronicdevices and new electronic devices according to the development oftechnologies.

Hereinafter, electronic devices according to various embodiments will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedisclosure, the term “user” may refer to a person who uses an electronicdevice or may refer to a device (e.g., an artificial intelligenceelectronic device) that uses the electronic device.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an external appearance of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 100 according to variousembodiments, for example, may include a housing 200 including a firstsurface 100 a, a second surface 100 b that is opposite to the firstsurface 100 a, and at least one side part between the first surface 100a and the second surface 100 b, and a display 160 seated on the housing200 and at least a portion of which is exposed to be observed from theoutside. At least a portion of the housing 200 may be formed of ametallic material. According to an embodiment, the entire housing 200may be formed of a metallic material. According to an embodiment, thefirst surface 100 a of the housing 200 may be opened and may be disposedto surround at least a portion of a periphery of the display 160. Atleast a portion of the side of the housing 200 may be rounded. Accordingto an embodiment, at least one of the side surface or the rear surfaceof the housing 200 may be used as an antenna. In this regard, thehousing 200 may include a main body 210, a first antenna area 221, or asecond antenna area 222. According to an embodiment, a camera hole 240may be disposed on one side of the housing 200, and at least a portionof a camera 180 may be exposed through the camera hole 240 to photographa subject.

According to various embodiments, at least one physical button 230 maybe disposed on one side of the housing 200. The at least one physicalbutton 230, for example, may include a volume key 231 or an electricsource key 232. According to various embodiments, the at least onephysical button 230 may include a physical key, to which an applicationfunction of providing screens for execution stages is allocated, whileexecuting user functions of the electronic device 100 in multiple stagesbased on specified voice instructions. According to various embodiments,the at least one physical button 230 may include a home key. Accordingto various embodiments, the at least one physical button 230 may includea switch type physical button, and at least one of a fingerprint sensoror a pressure sensor may be disposed in the interior or an adjacent areaof the at least one physical button 230. The housing 200 may include atleast one hole in a specific area of a side part thereof such that theat least one physical button 230 may be disposed in the hole.

A gap (or a space or a crack) or a first insulation layer 221 a may bedisposed between the first antenna area 221 and the main body 210.According to various embodiments, at least one point of the firstantenna area 221 may be physically or electrically connected to one sideof the main body 210. In this case, the main body 210 may function asthe ground to first antenna area 211. Although it is illustrated thatthe first antenna area 221 includes a portion of the rear surface on theupper side and a side part of the main body 210, the disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the first antenna area 211 may includeonly the side part disposed on the upper side of the main body 210.Alternatively, the first antenna area 211 may include a portion of anupper side part or upper left/right side parts of the main body 210.

The second antenna area 222 may be disposed at a location (e.g., aspecific lower area of the main body 210) that is opposite to an area inwhich the first antenna area 221 is disposed. According to anembodiment, the second antenna area 222 may include a specific portionof a rear surface on a lower side of the main body 210 and a portion ofa side part on a lower side of the main body 210. A gap or a secondinsulation layer 222 a may be disposed between the second antenna area222 and the main body 210.

According to various embodiments, for example, at least one of aconnector hole 222 b, into which a universal serial bus (USB) connectoror micro USB connector may be inserted, or an earphone jack hole 222 c,into which an earphone jack may be inserted, may be disposed at aspecific portion (e.g., a specific portion of a side part) of the secondantenna area 222.

The first antenna area 221 or the second antenna area 222, which hasbeen mentioned above, may performs a function of an antenna of at leastone wireless communication module 112 (or wireless communicationcircuit) of the electronic device 100. For example, the first antennaarea 221 or the second antenna area 222 may perform an antenna functionrelated to a voice communication or data communication function such as3rd generation (3G) or 4th generation (4G). Alternatively, the firstantenna area 221 or the second antenna area 222 may perform an antennafunction of a Wi-Fi communication circuit or an antenna function of ashort range communication circuit such as Bluetooth.

At least a portion of the display 160 may be seated inside the housingthrough an opening corresponding to at least a portion of the firstsurface 100 a of the housing 200. At least a portion of the frontsurface of the display 160 includes a display area, and at least aportion of a part of the display, which is seated inside the housing,may include a non-display area. An outer protective layer (e.g., glass)may be disposed on a surface of the display 160, and the display 160 mayinclude a display panel or a panel (e.g., a touch panel or a digitizer)related to support of a touch function.

In the above-mentioned electronic device 100, the thickness of thehousing 200 may be a specified thickness or less (e.g., about 2.5 mm orless). Because the thickness of the housing 200 is about 2.5 mm or less,a stop recess (e.g., a recess for stopping the housing 200 by using aspecific mechanism) for electrical post-processing may be formed on atleast one side of the housing 200 while at least a portion of thehousing 200 or at least a portion of a structure disposed inside thehousing 200 is included in the stop recess. At least a portion of thestructure, for example, may be formed of a material (e.g., a nonmetallicmaterial) that is different from that of the housing 200. A plurality ofstop recesses may be formed in the housing 200.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of the shape of a housing of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device 100 according to anembodiment of the disclosure may include the housing 200 and a structure300 disposed inside the housing 200. As described above, the housing 200may include a rear surface (e.g., the second surface) and at least oneside wall (e.g., the side parts) extending from a periphery of the rearsurface in a specific direction (e.g., a vertical direction), and anopening surface (e.g., the first surface) may be formed at the center ofthe housing 200 by the side wall. At least a portion of a corner area ofthe housing 200, in which the side walls of the housing 200 meet eachother, may be rounded. A seating space, in which at least one componentrelated to management of the electronic device 100 may be seated, in theinterior thereof may be formed in the above-mentioned housing 200 by theside walls. According to an embodiment, the structure 300 may bedisposed inside the housing 200 such that components of the electronicdevice 100 may be seated on the structure 300. The structure 300, forexample, may be formed of molded plastic. In this regard, after thehousing 200 of a metallic material is formed, the structure 300 may bedisposed through injection-molding or the like. The form or thickness ofthe structure 300 may be provided in various forms according to theshape or function of the component of the electronic device 100.According to an embodiment, the structure 300 may be disposed in apartial area of the bottom surface or a partial area of the inside ofthe side wall of the housing 200.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a cutaway surface of oneside of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a partial areaof one side of a housing of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the disclosure in more detail.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the electronic device 100 according to anembodiment of the disclosure may include the housing 200 and thestructure 300.

The housing 200 may include a bottom surface 200 a and a first side wall201. The bottom surface 200 a has a specified thickness or less (e.g.,about 2.5 mm or less), and has a shape in which the central portion ofthe bottom surface 200 a is flat as a whole and the bottom surface 200 ais rounded (or curved) more as it goes toward a periphery thereof. Thestructure 300 may be disposed in at least a portion of an inner surfaceof the bottom surface 200 a. For example, a battery or a printed circuitboard may be positioned on the bottom surface 200 a. A processor 111related to driving of the display, a wireless communication circuit(e.g., the at least one wireless communication module 112 of FIG. 1)related to a communication function of the electronic device 100 may bemounted on the printed circuit board.

The first side wall 201 may extend from a periphery of the bottomsurface 200 a by a specific height while having a specific inclination(e.g., a vertical inclination). At least a portion of the structure 300may be positioned inside the first side wall 201. According to anembodiment, a stop recess 250 may be disposed on one side of the firstside wall 201. The thickness of the first side wall 201 may be the sameas, similar to, or smaller than the thickness of the bottom surface 200a. Alternatively, although the thicknesses of the first side wall 201for the locations of the first side wall 201 are not constant but may bedifferent, the first side wall 201 may be thin (e.g., about 2.5 mm orless).

The stop recess 250 may be disposed on at least one side wall of thehousing 200. A portion of a side wall (e.g., the first side wall 201) ofthe stop recess 250 may include at least a portion (e.g., a stop part ora support) of the structure 300 disposed in an engraved side wall recess201 a or a periphery of the side wall recess 201 a. Although it has beendescribed in the above description that the stop recess 250 is disposedin the first side wall 201, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Whenthe housing 200 has four side walls, at least one stop recess may bedisposed on at least one of the four side walls. The stop recess 250 mayinclude at least a portion of the structure 300, and accordingly, thedepth of the stop recess 250 may be made deeper by a portion of thestructure 300. When the stop recess 250 is disposed in at least one ofthe four side walls, the stop recess 250 may be disposed in at least oneof the side walls of the first antenna area 221 or the second antennaarea 222, which has been described above.

In relation to the stop recess 250, at least a portion of the structure300 may include a stop part 310 or a support 320. According to variousembodiments, the structure 300 may further include parts disposed in atleast some of the bottom surface 200 a, the first side wall 201, orother side walls of the housing 200. The stop part 310 may be disposedat a peripheral portion (e.g., an upper end of the side wall recess) ofthe side wall recess 201 a. For example, the stop part 310 may extendfrom a surface of an upper end of the side recess 201 a while having aspecified inclination (e.g., an inclination that is perpendicular to theside wall) from the side wall. Because the stop part 310 protrudes froma periphery of the side wall recess 201 a, the depth of the stop recess250 may be made deeper. The support 320 may be disposed to be adjacentto the bottom part of the periphery of the side wall recess 201 a. Thesupport 320 is formed by disposing a configuration of the structure 300at a periphery of the side wall recess 201 a, and may have a height thatis the same as or similar to the bottom surface of the side wall recess201 a.

As described above, for example, when the stop recess 250 is machined asillustrated in the housing that utilizes a metallic material of about1.4 mm to 1.7 mm or injection-molding, the stop recess 250 may have aspecific depth while the stop part 310 is disposed around the side wallrecess 201 a. The outer side of the housing 200 of a thickness of 0.4 mmto 0.6 mm may be additionally machined according to a design or forparts of the housing 200. In the stop recess 250, ‘a’ indicates a partby which a jig for current flows may be prevented during an anodizingprocess, and may be a depth of about 1.0 mm to 1.4 mm Further, ‘b’indicates a section in which a metal part is left after the stop recess250 is machined, and may have a depth of about 0.5 mm to 0.97 mm Inaddition, ‘c’ corresponds to a size that is larger than the thickness ofthe jig such that the anodizing jig may be inserted thereto, and may beabout 1.5 mm or more. The above-mentioned sizes may be differentaccording to the thickness and the shape of the anodizing jig.

According to various embodiments, if the stop part 310, by which the jigmay be stopped, is made by using at least a portion of the structure 300(or an injection-molding part), a metal housing may be easilymanufactured by using a thin plate metal sheet that may secure a machinemargin of the metal while satisfying the thickness of the metal forstrength of a product. For example, at least a portion of the structure300 that surrounds the stop recess 250 may be configured to continuouslysurround a circumference of the recess formed in the housing and suchthat the stop recess 250 becomes deeper (e.g., to have a depth that islarger than the depth of the recess formed only by the housing). Then,the sectional shape of the stop recess 250 may be polygonal (e.g.,rectangular, tetragonal, or diamond-shaped) or circular or the openingcorresponding to the upper end surface of the stop recess 250 may bepolygonal or circular. Alternatively, at least a portion of thesectional shape of the stop recess 250 may include a curved part, andthe remaining portions of the sectional shape of the stop recess 250 mayhave a linear form.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a housing, to which a jig iscoupled, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 6 is a viewillustrating a portion of a housing, to which a jig is coupled,according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

For anodizing (processing of a surface of a metal), which corresponds toelectrical post-processing, of the metallic material (e.g., the housing200), a rack hanger (a jig hanger or the stop recess 250) for currentflows to and from the metallic material may be disposed in the metallicmaterial. If the rack hanger is not present or the jig is not stablyheld on the rack hanger, the metallic material may be lost or thesurface of the metallic material cannot be properly processed during theanodizing process. When the housings for the electronic device ismass-produced, a stop part of about 1 mm or more may be necessary inorder that a jig 400 for current flows to and from a metallic materialmay be stably coupled during an anodizing process, and when a metallicmaterial of a thin thickness (e.g., about 2.0 mm or less) is used, thedepth of the stop recess may be 1 mm or less due to securing of athickness of an external appearance of external computerized numericalcontrol (CNC) processing and strength. In the electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure, the stop recess may bemade to have a specified depth (e.g., about 1 mm) by using thestructure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the housing 200 of the electronic device 100may include stop recesses 251, 252, and 253 which the jigs 401, 402, and403 for current flows may contact for electrical post-processing (e.g.,anodizing). As described above, the bottom part and the side walls arepresent in the housing 200 of the electronic device 100, and the stoprecesses 251, 252, and 253 may be disposed in at least one of the sidewalls. According to an embodiment, referring to the illustrateddrawings, the stop recesses 251, 252, and 253 may include a first stoprecess (e.g., stop recess 251) disposed at a lower end of the left sidewall, a second stop recess (e.g., stop recess 252) disposed at an upperend of the left side wall, and a third stop recess (e.g., stop recess253) disposed at an middle part of the right side wall. Theabove-mentioned structure 300 may be disposed in the interior of thehousing 200.

The jigs 401, 402, and 403 may include a first jig (e.g., jig 401)stably fixed to the first stop recess 251 while electrically contactingthe lower end of the left side wall of the housing 200 through the firststop recess, a second jig (e.g., jig 402) stably fixed to the secondstop recess while electrically contacting the upper end of the left sidewall of the housing 200 through the second stop recess, and a third jig(e.g., jig 403) stably fixed to the third stop recess 253 whileelectrically contacting the middle part of the right side wall of thehousing 200 through the third stop recess 253. Although a structure inwhich three stop recesses 251, 252, and 253 or three jigs 401, 402, and403 are disposed is illustrated in the drawings, the disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the housing 200 may include two or notless than four stop recesses, and the jigs 401, 402, and 403 may includetwo or more jigs.

In the illustrated drawings, the thickness of an external machined partor the necessary size of the inner stop recess may vary according to thecurvature R of the design of the external appearance of the housing 200,the size of the housing, and the complexity of the inner shape of theside part of the housing 200. When the external appearance of thehousing is machined, it may be machined by 0.4 mm or more. Accordingly,the maximum thickness of the housing 200 may be 1.2 mm When the recessfor the rack hanger is machined, the side part of the housing 200 may berecessed in consideration of the thickness of about 0.5 mm to secure thestrength of the housing 200 or prevent the interior of the housing 200from being viewed from the outside.

Although it has been described in the description of FIG. 5 that thestop recesses 251, 252, and 253 are disposed in the first side wall 201(e.g., a side part in which the first stop recess or the second stoprecess is disposed) and the second side wall 202 (e.g., a side part inwhich the third stop recess 253 is disposed) and electric currents mayflow between the jigs 401, 402, and 403 and the stop recesses 251, 252,and 253, the disclosure is not limited thereto. A stop recess may bedisposed in at least one of the third side wall 203 (e.g., the upper endside wall) or the fourth side wall 204 (e.g., the lower end side wall)disposed between the first side wall 201 or the second side wall 202,and the jig may be inserted into the stop recess such that electriccurrent may flow. Here, even though at least one stop recess is disposedin at least one of the side walls 201, 202, 203, and 204, at least twojigs may be inserted into the stop recesses.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a stop recess according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, as described above, the stop recess 250 accordingto the disclosure, for example, may include a stop part (or a stop area)(e.g., the stop part 310 of FIG. 4) formed due to deformation of therecess formed at a portion of the first side wall 201 of the housing orthe structure 300. After the jig is inserted into the stop recess 250,an inside of the first side wall 201 of the metallic housing and the jigmay electrically contact each other for supply of electric power throughthe jig. Accordingly, as illustrated, an electrical contact point 290may be formed inside the stop recess 250 (or the side wall recess 201a). A nonconductive layer (or an anodizing layer) may be formed throughelectrical post-processing in the remaining areas except to theelectrical contact point 290. The nonconductive layer, for example, mayinclude an aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) layer. The anodizing layer is a layerdisposed on a surface of the housing through the anodizing process, andmay be formed in at least a portion of the inner and outer surfaces ofthe housing 200, except for an area in which the electrical contact isformed and an area in which the structure is formed. According tovarious embodiments, at least one stop recess, in which the electricalcontact point 290 is not formed, may be formed in the housing having aplurality of stop recesses.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating another example of a stop recess accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, as described with reference to FIG. 7, in the firstside wall 201 of the housing of the electronic device according to thedisclosure, the stop recess 250 including a portion (e.g., a stop partand a support) of the structure may be disposed on one side of the firstside wall 201 of the housing. For example, the stop recess 250 mayinclude a recess provided on one side of the first side wall 201 of thehousing and a stop part (e.g., the stop part 310 of FIG. 4) disposedsuch that a portion of the structure 300 protrudes by a specific heightaround the recess. According to various embodiments, a conductive member810 may be disposed in the stop recess 250 disposed in the first sidewall 201 of the housing of the electronic device. The conductive member810 may be disposed to surround a peripheral part of the stop recess 250while being electrically connected to the electrical contact point 290described with reference to FIG. 7. Accordingly, the conductive member810 may be used as an antenna connecting point when the side wall of thehousing 200 is used as an antenna. According to various embodiments, theconductive member 810, for example, may be electrically connected to thecommunication circuit disposed in the printed circuit board of theelectronic device. The conductive member 810 may function as anelectrical connecting point of a ground area (e.g., when the side wallof the housing 200 functions as the ground) of the communicationcircuit. Alternatively, the conductive member 810 may function as aconnecting point that may transmit and receive a signal of thecommunication circuit. According to various embodiments, the conductivemember 810, for example, may include at least one of a conductive tape,a conductive clip, or a conductive spring.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a process of forming a stop recessaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, as in state 901, the housing 200 may have a shapeincluding a bottom part 911 and side walls 912 on one side of thehousing 200 through pressing of a metallic thin plate. In this process,a wing 205 may be formed on at least one side of the housing 200. Asillustrated, the housing 200 may have a thickness that is the same as orsimilar to the thicknesses of the bottom part 911 and the side walls912. The side walls 912 may extend from a periphery of the bottom part911 to have a specific height while having a specific inclination. Thewings may be disposed at upper ends of the side walls 912 while having aspecific angle (e.g., an angle that is perpendicular to the upper endsof the side walls 912 in a direction that becomes farther from thecenter of the bottom part). The wings may function to fix the housing200 when the housing 200 is formed or the structure is formed. In state901, the housing 200 may be formed by utilizing at least one method(pressing, casting, rolling, extrusion, and the like) of machining ametallic basic material.

As in state 903, the structure 300 may be disposed on one side of thehousing 200. The structure 300 may be formed of a nonconductivematerial. Additionally or alternatively, an antenna articulation part921 may be provided on one side of the housing 200. At least a portionof the structure 300 may be disposed in an aperture formed for theantenna articulation. According to an embodiment, the structure 300 maybe configured by forming the nonconductive material in a specific shape,and may be configured by attaching the structure 300 to an inside of thehousing 200 or bonding the structure 300 to an inside of the housing 200while forming the nonconductive material in a specific shape. Thenonconductive material (e.g., the structure 300) may be variousmaterials, such as polycarbonate (PC) or polyphthalamide (PPA).According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the structure 300may be bonded onto the housing 200 while the structure 300 is formed byperforming chemical surface processing (e.g., technology rising fromIwate (TRI)) for reinforcing an attachment force between a metal (e.g.,the housing 200) and a nonconductive material (e.g., the structure 300)and insertion-injection molding a conductive resin (e.g., a resin towhich a thermoplastic resin (poly carbonate, poly butylene terephthalate(PBT), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly amide (PA), PPA, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), poly phenylene sulfone (PPSU), poly aryletherketone (PAEK), poly ether ketone (PEEK)) and an organic material(glass fiber (GF), carbon fiber (CF), talc (stone powder, particles, andtalc) are added) by using a mold.

As in state 905, the stop recess 250 may be provided in at least aportion of the inner structure while the outside of the housing 200 ismachined (e.g., the wings are removed). As mentioned above, the stoprecess 250 may include the stop part 310 or the support 320. The stoprecess 250 may be provided on at least two of the four side walls of thehousing 200.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device includes ahousing including a first surface facing a first direction (e.g., adirection in which the display 160 is disposed on the bottom surface ofthe electronic device 100 with reference to FIG. 1), a second surfacefacing a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, andone or more side parts disposed in a space between the first surface andthe second surface, wherein at least some of the side parts and at leasta portion of the second surface of the housing are formed of a metallicmaterial, a touchscreen display which is exposed through a portion ofthe first surface, an internal nonconductive structure attached along atleast some of the side parts inside the housing, a wirelesscommunication circuit disposed inside the housing, and a processor(e.g., the processor 111 of FIG. 1) electrically connected to thewireless communication circuit and the display and disposed inside thehousing, the side part may include a first inner surface facing a thirddirection that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction,the internal nonconductive structure may include a first opening formedat a portion of the first inner surface of the side part in the thirddirection, the side part may include an anodizing layer formed at aportion of the first inner surface, and the anodizing layer may includea recess, through which a portion of the first inner surface is exposed.

According to various embodiments, the side parts and the second surfacemay be formed of the same material or may be integrally formed.

According to various embodiments, one surface of the side parts and hesecond surface may include an anodizing layer.

According to various embodiments, the inner structure may be attached toat least a portion of the side parts having no anodizing layer.

According to various embodiments, the metallic material may includealuminum, and the anodizing layer may include aluminum.

According to various embodiments, the recess may have at least onecircular shape or polygonal shape (e.g., a tetragonal shape).

According to various embodiments, the first opening may have a polygonalshape (e.g., a tetragonal shape).

According to various embodiments, a portion of the first inner surfaceof the side parts may be formed to be concave in a fourth direction thatis opposite to the third direction when being compared with anotherportion of the first inner surface with respect to a cutaway surface ofthe side parts.

According to various embodiments, the side parts may include a secondinner surface facing a fourth direction that is opposite to the thirddirection, and the inner structure may include a second opening formedat a portion of the second inner surface of the side parts in the fourthdirection.

According to various embodiments, the side parts may include ananodizing layer formed at a portion of the second inner surface, and theanodizing layer may include a recess, through which at least a portionof the second inner surface is not exposed.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device includes ahousing including a first surface opened while facing a first direction,a second surface facing a second direction that is opposite to the firstdirection, and side parts disposed in different directions between thefirst surface and the second surface, a nonconductive structure disposedalong at least a portion of the side part within the housing, andrecesses including at least one recess formed on one surface of the sideparts and a portion of the nonconductive structure surrounding aperipheral portion of the at least one recess.

According to various embodiments, the side parts include an anodizinglayer disposed on an outer surface thereof.

According to various embodiments, the stop recess may include ananodizing layer formed on an inner surface of the at least one recess,and an electrical contact point disposed on one side of the at least onerecess.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude a conductive member electrically connected to the electricalcontact point while covering an opening area of the stop recess.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude a printed circuit board disposed inside the housing and on whicha communication circuit electrically connected to the conductive memberis mounted.

According to various embodiments, the side walls may include a firstside wall extending from a first periphery of the second surface whilehaving a specific inclination from the first periphery, a second sidewall disposed to face the first side wall at a second periphery that isopposite to the first periphery, a third side wall disposed at a thirdperiphery disposed between one end of the first periphery and one end ofthe second periphery and between the first side wall and the second sidewall, and a fourth side wall disposed at a fourth periphery disposedbetween an opposite end of the first periphery and an opposite end ofthe second periphery and between the first side wall and the second sidewall.

According to various embodiments, at least some of the stop recesses maybe disposed in the first side wall and the remaining ones of the stoprecesses are disposed in the second side wall.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude at least one of a first antenna articulation part formed toinclude at least a portion of the third side wall, and a second antennaarticulation part formed to include at least a portion of the fourthside wall.

According to various embodiments, the stop recess may be formed in atleast one of the first antenna articulation part and the second antennaarticulation part.

According to various embodiments, a portion of the nonconductivestructure disposed around the stop recess may be configured such thatthe depth of the recess is larger than the depth of a part formed onlyby the housing (e.g., the depth of the recess formed by a portion of thenonconductive structure is added to the depth of the recess) whilecontinuously surrounding a periphery of the at least one recess, or maybe configured such that protrusions having a specific thickness and aspecific width are provided at a specific interval while surrounding aperiphery of the at least one recess.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a method of manufacturing ahousing of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the method for manufacturing a housingaccording to the disclosure, for example, in operation 1001, a metallicbasic material may be provided. The metallic basic material, forexample, is a conductive material (e.g., aluminum or an aluminum alloy),has a thickness or less (e.g., about 2.5 mm or less), and has a panelshape of a size that is larger than the size of the housing 200. If themetallic basic material is provided, the housing 200 in which the wingshaving the above-described form are disposed may be provided in state901 of FIG. 9 through machining (e.g., pressing).

In operation 1003, a nonconductive material attaching process may beperformed. In this regard, the structure 300 may be fixed through abonding operation while the structure 300 obtained by machining thenonconductive material in a specific form is seated inside the housing200. Alternatively, the structure 300 may be fixed to an inside of thehousing 200 when the structure 300 is formed while a resin of a specificmaterial is insert injection-molded inside the housing 200.

In operation 1005, a stop recess (or rack hanger) producing process maybe performed. At least one stop recess may be formed at a portion of theareas in which the structure 300 is formed, by which the jig is stopped.In this regard, the stop recess 250 may be provided by performing aprocess (e.g., CNC machining) of cutting away a portion of the structure300 and a portion (e.g., a portion of a side wall) of the housing 200 ata location at which the stop recess 250 is to be formed.

In operation 1007, an electrical post-processing process may beperformed. In this regard, the jig, through which electric currents mayflow, may electrically contact the housing 200 while being inserted intothe stop recess 250. In a process of inserting the jig into the stoprecess 250, the jig may be electrically connected to the bottom part(e.g., the side wall surface of the housing 200) of the stop recess 250.While an electric voltage of a specific value is supplied to the jig, anonconductive layer (e.g., an anodizing layer) may be formed on asurface of the housing 200 while the housing 200 is immersed in asolution for electrical post-processing. In this operation, because thejig is maintained in a state in which the jig contacts the inner surfaceof the stop recess 250, an electrical contact point 290 may be formed inat least one point of the inner surface of the stop recess 250.

In operation 1009, a conduction process for the stop recess may beperformed. As described with reference to FIG. 8, at least portion ofthe side wall having the stop recess 250 may support electricalcharacteristics of the printed circuit board while the conductive memberis disposed inside the stop recess 250. For example, the side wall mayperform a communication function or function as the ground through thestop recess 250. Operation 1009 may be optionally performed. Forexample, operation 1009 may be omitted according to the change of theprocess.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a housing process of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, as in state 1101, a metallic basic material 20 ofa thin plate may be provided. The thin plate (or thin shape) may have aspecific thickness or less (e.g., about 2.5 mm or less). The metallicbasic material 20, for example, may include a thin panel of aluminum oran aluminum alloy.

As in state 1103, the metallic basic material 20 of a thin plate may bepressed. In the pressing process, the metallic basic material 20 of thethin plate may be formed to include the housing 200 including the bottompart 911 and the side walls 912 extending from a periphery of the bottompart 911 upwards by a specific height and wings extending from at leastsome of the side walls 912. The wings may perform a function of fixingthe housing 200 during various additional processes for the housing, andmay be removed after a specific process.

As in state 1105, CNC machining may be performed before insertinjection-molding. The CNC machining, for example, may include machiningof a metal entangled structure of an inner side of the housing 200(machining for a structure in which, after at least one machined end, aconvexo-concave portion, or a machined hole is formed one at least oneside of a metallic component such that a resin may be physically tightlystopped by a metallic component (e.g., the housing) when an inside ofthe housing is insert injection-molded, the resin is inserted into andfixed to the machined end, the convexo-concave portion or the machinedhole), machining of an injection-molding mold combined surface of theinner side of the housing 200 (a structure assembled in the mold isformed on one side of the housing or in at least some wings such thatsize precision may be increased in relation to alignment of the housingwhen the housing is seated on the injection-molding mold), machining ofthe shape of an articulation part of an outer antenna, and machining ofan outer USB or an ear jack hole. When the shape of the antennaarticulation part 921 is machined, at least one bridge 931 (e.g., a partthat physically connects the main body of the housing 200 and theantenna articulation part 921) may be provided.

As in state 1107, TRI processing and insert injection-molding may beperformed. In this operation, TRI processing may be performed on asurface of the housing 200 for improvement of a resin bonding force of ametal surface of the housing 200 and the structure 300. After the TRIprocessing, the inner structure is injection-molded and the outerantenna articulation part may be injection-molded. The injection moldingprocess for the inner structure may be replaced by a process ofattaching the structure 300 to a surface of the housing 200 based on abonding agent after the structure 300 is separately provided.

As in state 1109, design shape machining may be performed before theinsert injection-molding. In the design shape machining process, theshape for the rear surface of the housing 200 and the upper, lower,left, and right designs may be machined. For example, in the designforming process, a process of engraving a logo or the like or removinginjection-molded products protruding to the outside of the antennaarticulation part may be performed.

As in state 1111, a CNC process may be performed after the insertinjection-molding. In this process, the wings may be removed and a stoprecess (or a rack hanger) for anodizing may be formed (e.g., a T-cut maybe machined). Additionally, an area for a battery seating part may bemachined inside the housing 200. In relation to machining of the areafor the battery seating part, a specific area of an inner side of thehousing 200 corresponding to the size of a battery may be engravedfurther than a peripheral part of the housing 200 through the CNCprocess.

As in state 1113, a side part of the housing 200 may be machined. Forexample, at least one button hole may be disposed in a side part of thehousing 200. The at least one button hole, for example, may include atleast one of a volume key hole, a specified function key hole (e.g., ahole in which a button configured to perform a user function of theelectronic device based in a voice), a power source key hole, or a holekey hole.

As in state 1115, at least a partial area including a rear surface 1110of the housing may be surface-processed and anodized. After theabove-described jig for current flows is seated in the stop recess (thestop recess 250 of FIG. 2 and the like), an anodizing process may beperformed in a specified environment. Additionally, before theperformance of the anodizing process for the housing 200, polishing andsanding processes for at least a partial surface (e.g., at least apartial area of the rear surface 1110) of the housing may 200 beperformed. During the anodizing process, the housing 200 may have aspecific color.

As in state 1117, an antenna contact part 1120 may be machined. Theantenna contact part 1120 that may be electrically connected to thehousing 200 may be machined in at least one of the inner side or theside walls of the housing 200. The antenna contact part 1120 may beelectrically connected to the communication module disposed in theprinted circuit board (not illustrated) through the above-describedconductive member. According to various embodiments, the antenna contactpart 1120 may be disposed in at least one of the stop recesses. Forexample, at least one stop recess may be formed in at least one of theantenna articulation parts, and the antenna contact part that may beelectrically connected to the communication circuit mounted on theprinted circuit board through the electrical contact point provided inthe stop recesses may be disposed. Then, the antenna contact part mayinclude the above-described conductive member (e.g., a conductive memberof a clip form or a conductive tape).

According to various embodiments, some of the sequences of theabove-described process may be changed. For example, the process may bechanged such that state 1117 may be prior to state 1113. Alternatively,the process may be changed such that state 1113 may be prior to state1111. In this way, the sequences of the plurality of states of theprocess may be changed according to a change of the process ofmanufacturing the housing of the electronic device or if necessary.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of another form of a stoprecess according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12, the stop recess 250 according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure may be provided while a portion of the structure 300 isremoved. For example, stop recesses may be provided such that thesupport 320 is maintained and at least one of the stop parts areremoved. As the stop part 310 is removed, an upper end of the stoprecess 250 may be opened upwards. The process, for example, may beperformed after the anodizing process is completed. After the anodizingprocess is completed, at least a portion of the side wall, which iscovered by the stop part 310 may be exposed as the stop part 310 isremoved. The exposed portion of the side wall may be electricallyexposed. The exposed portion of the side wall, for example, may beelectrically connected to the communication module of the printedcircuit board or the like through the conductive member or the like.According to various embodiments, as illustrated, at least a portion ofthe structure 300, which surrounds the stop recess 250, may be providedto discontinuously surround the recess by removing at least a portion ofthe stop part 310. Although the shape, in which at least a portion ofthe stop part 310 is removed, has been described with reference to theillustrated drawing, the stop recess 250 may have a shape, in which atleast a portion of the support 320 is removed.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of forming an antennaarticulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of an antennaarticulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an example of a section of anantenna articulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 13, as in state 1301, the housing 200 temporarilyfixed based on the wing 205 may include antenna articulation partsformed through CNC machining The antenna articulation parts, forexample, may include a first antenna articulation part 1321 (e.g., thefirst antenna area 221) and a second antenna articulation part 1322(e.g., the second antenna area 222). Accordingly, the housing 200 mayhave a gap 1330 between the main body 210 and the antenna articulationparts 1321 and 1322. The housing 200 may include at least one bridge1310 connecting the antenna articulation parts 1321 and 1322 and a mainbody 1320. The at least one bridge 1310, for example, include at leastone bridge fixing the first antenna articulation part 1321 to the mainbody 1320 and at least one bridge fixing the second antenna articulationpart 1322 to the main body 1320. Although it is illustrated in thedrawing that two bridges are disposed between the first antennaarticulation part 1312 (or the second antenna articulation part 1322)and the main body 1320, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the at least one bridge 1310 or three or more bridges may bedisposed between the first antenna articulation part 1321 and the mainbody 1320.

As in state 1303, a resin may be filled in the gap 1330 between thefirst antenna articulation part 1321 and the second antenna articulationpart 1322 through insert injection-molding after the first antennaarticulation part 1321 and the second antenna articulation part 1322 areproduced, while the at least one bridge 1310 is maintained. While theresin is filled in the gap 1330, a portion 227 and a portion 228 (e.g.,a runner) of the structure may protrude from a surface of the rearsurface of the housing 200 as illustrated. A portion 223 and a portion224 of the structure corresponding to an injection-molding gate may beformed on a surface of the housing 200.

As in state 1305, at least some of the portions 223, 224, 227, and 228of the protruding structure may be removed in the process of producingthe stop recess of the housing 200. Alternatively, at least some of theportions 223, 224, 227, and 228 of the structure may be removed in theprocess of machining the side part of the housing 200. According to anembodiment, a part of the portion 223 and the portion 224 of thestructure, which protrudes from a surface of the housing 200, isremoved, and connecting parts 225 and 226 that bury gaps between themain body 1320 and the antenna articulation parts 1321 and 1322 may beformed.

As in state 1307, the housing 200 may have a specific color through theanodizing process after the wings are removed from the housing 200 and asurface of the housing 200 is processed. In this process, at least aportion of the at least one bridge 1310 may be removed.

Referring to FIG. 14, after the metallic basic material is pressed, thegap 1330 may be formed between the main body 1320 and the antennaarticulation parts 1321 and 1322 through CNC machining As describedabove, according to an embodiment, the housing 200 may include the atleast one bridge 1310 of a specific width and a specific thickness,which connects the main body 1320 and the antenna articulation parts1321 and 1322. The at least one bridge 1310 may have a thickness that issmaller than the thickness of the peripheral part. In this regard, aspace between the main body 1320 and the antenna articulation parts 1321and 1322 are passed through to form the gap 1330 in the CNC machiningprocess, and in the area of the at least one bridge 1310, a partial areaof the main body 1320 and the antenna articulation parts 1321 and 1322may be recessed such that the at least one bridge 1310 of a specificthickness may be formed.

Referring to FIG. 15, in state 1501, the housing 200 may include thefirst antenna articulation part 1312 (or the second antenna articulationpart, hereinafter, the first antenna articulation part 1321 will bedescribed) through machining of one side (e.g., the bottom part) of thehousing 200. The at least one bridge 1310 connecting the main body 1320and the first antenna articulation part 1321 may be disposed on one sideof the housing 200. The thickness of the at least one bridge 1310 may besimilar to or thinner than the thickness of the peripheral part (e.g.,the thickness of the first antenna articulation part 1321 or thethickness of the main body 1320).

As in state 1503, the structure 300 may be disposed inside the housing200 through insert injection-molding. Additionally, as the gap 1330between the main body 1320 and the first antenna articulation part 1321is filled with a resin in the insert injection-molding process, theportion 227 of the structure may protrude from a surface of the rearsurface of the housing 200. As at least some parts of portion 227 of thestructure are disposed in the interior of the gap 1330 and on the atleast one bridge 1310, they may protrude from the surface of the rearsurface of the housing 200 by a specific height.

As in state 1505, in the process of machining the rear surface of thehousing 200, the protruding parts of the portion 223 of the structure,which protrudes from the rear surface of the housing 200, may beremoved. Accordingly, a connecting part 225 that buries the gap 1330between the main body 1320 and the first antenna articulation part 1321and the upper side of the at least one bridge 1310 may be formed. Asurface of the connecting part 225 may be disposed in parallel to thesurface of the rear surface of the housing 200. Alternatively, a surfaceof the connecting part 225 may be disposed to be continuous with thesurface of the rear surface of the housing 200.

As in state 1507, at least a portion of the structure 300 disposedinside the housing 200 (e.g., on the inner surface of the bottom part)may be removed. According to an embodiment, a process of removing aportion of the structure disposed in an area of the at least one bridge1310 of the structure 300 and at least a portion of the bottom part ofthe housing 200 may be performed. Through the process, an area 1510, inwhich a portion of the structure and the at least one bridge 1310 areremoved, is provided, and the connecting part 225 in state 1505 may havethe same thickness as in state 1507 or may have a thickness that isthinner than before as a portion of the connecting part 225 is removedwhen the at least one bridge 1310 is removed.

According to various embodiments, only some of the at least one bridge1310 disposed between the main body 1320 and the antenna articulationparts 1321 and 1322 may be removed. For example, when two bridges aredisposed between the main body 1320 and the antenna articulation parts1321 and 1322, some bridges may be removed and some bridges may bemaintained in the process of removing the bridges. The main body may beused as a ground area for the antenna articulation part while theantenna articulation part is electrically connected to the main bodythrough the bridge. For example, the first antenna articulation part1321 may be physically or electrically connected to the main body 1320through one bridge. All the bridges disposed between the second antennaarticulation part 1322 and the main body 1320 may be removed.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an example of a method of forming anantenna articulation part of a housing according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16, in the method for forming an antenna articulationpart according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a metallic basicmaterial may be provided, in operation 1601. The metallic basicmaterial, for example, may have the size corresponding to the size ofthe housing of the electronic device and the size of the wings forfixing the housing.

In operation 1603, the antenna except for the at least one bridge 1310and the non-antenna part may be separated. For example, as describedabove with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15, gaps may be formed between theantenna articulation parts 1321 and 1322 and the main body 1320.

In operation 1605, an insertion injection-molding process may beperformed. Through this process, the gap 1330 may be filled with aresin. Additionally, the at least one bridge 1310 may have a thicknessthat is thinner than a peripheral part of the rear surface of thehousing 200, and accordingly, the resin may be disposed on the at leastone bridge 1310. According to an embodiment, in the insertinjection-molding process, the resin may protrude from the surface ofthe rear surface of the housing 200 by a specific height while beingpositioned on the gap 1330 and the at least one bridge 1310.

In operation 1607, an injection-molding gate may be removed. Asdescribed in operation 1605, in order to fill the resin between the gap1330 and the at least one bridge 1310, the injection-molding gate isprovided while the insert injection-molding process is performed, and inthis process, the injection-molding gate may be removed. Additionally, aportion of the structure protruding from the rear surface of the housing200 may be removed. According to various embodiments, the sequences ofthe process of removing the injection-molding gate or a runner (e.g., aportion of connecting parts 225 and 226 of the structure) and a processof removing the at least one bridge 1310, which will be described below,may be changed.

In operation 1609, the at least one bridge 1310 may be removed. A CNCmachining process may be performed on the area in which the at least onebridge 1310 is disposed so that a portion of the structure and the atleast one bridge 1310 may be removed. Through the process of removingthe at least one bridge 1310, the area in which the at least one bridge1310 had been disposed may be thinner than the bottom part of thehousing 200. The at least one bridge 1310 may function to firmly fix theantenna articulation part to one side of the main body 1320 so that theantenna articulation part and the main body are not separated from eachother when the structure 300 is formed.

Although it has been described in the above description that the atleast one bridge 1310 is formed by leaving a portion of the housing 200,the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a separate structure(or a separate piece) that functions as a bridge may be disposed betweenthe antenna articulation parts 1321 and 1322 and the main body 1320.

Further, the embodiments disclosed in the specification are provided todescribe the technical contents or for understanding of the technicalcontents, and the technical scope of the disclosure is not limitedthereto. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should be construed toinclude all changes or various embodiments based on the technical spiritof the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference tovarious embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable communication device comprising: ahousing comprising a conductive sidewall having an outer surface and aninner surface, the inner surface of the conductive sidewall including arecess formed therein; and a non-conductive member comprising an openingformed therein, the non-conductive member disposed on the inner surfaceof the conductive sidewall such that a first periphery of the opening issubstantially aligned with a first periphery of the recess, and that asecond periphery of the opening facing the first periphery of theopening is substantially aligned with a second periphery of the recessfacing the first periphery of the recess.
 2. The portable communicationdevice of claim 1, wherein a thickness between the outer surface and theinner surface of the conductive sidewall in an area in which the recessis not formed, is between 1.4 mm and 1.7 mm.
 3. The portablecommunication device of claim 1, wherein a thickness between the outersurface and the inner surface of the conductive sidewall in an area inwhich the recess is formed, is between 0.5 mm and 0.97 mm.
 4. Theportable communication device of claim 1, wherein a depth of the recessis between 1.0 mm and 1.4 mm.
 5. The portable communication device ofclaim 1, wherein a width of the opening is greater than 1.5 mm.
 6. Theportable communication device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprisesanother conductive sidewall facing the conductive sidewall, and whereinthe other conductive sidewall includes another recess formed in an innersurface thereof and substantially facing the recess formed in the innersurface of the conductive sidewall.
 7. The portable communication deviceof claim 1, wherein the non-conductive member is not formed in therecess.
 8. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein theinner surface of the conductive sidewall in which the recess is formed,comprises an anodized area and a non-anodized area substantiallysurrounded by the anodized area.
 9. A portable communication devicecomprising: a housing including at least a first sidewall and a secondsidewall, wherein the first sidewall comprises a first conductive memberand a first non-conductive member, wherein the first conductive membercomprises a first recess formed therein, wherein the firstnon-conductive member comprises a first opening formed therein, thefirst non-conductive member disposed on an inner surface of the firstconductive member, and wherein at least portion of the first opening issubstantially aligned with the first recess.
 10. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein the first recess of the firstconductive member comprises an anodized area and a non-anodized areasubstantially surrounded by the anodized area.
 11. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein the second sidewall comprises asecond conductive member and a second non-conductive member, and whereinthe second conductive member comprises a second recess formed in aninner surface thereof and the second non-conductive member comprises asecond opening formed therein, at least a portion of the second recessbeing substantially aligned with the second opening.
 12. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein the first non-conductive memberis not formed in the first recess.
 13. The portable communication deviceof claim 9, wherein a thickness between an outer surface and the innersurface of the first conductive member in an area in which the firstrecess is not formed, is between 1.4 mm and 1.7 mm.
 14. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein a thickness between an outersurface and the inner surface of the first conductive member in an areain which the first recess is formed, is between 0.5 mm and 0.97 mm. 15.The portable communication device of claim 9, wherein a depth of thefirst recess is between 1.0 mm and 1.4 mm.
 16. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein a width of the first opening isgreater than 1.5 mm.
 17. The portable communication device of claim 9,wherein the first recess is formed such that a jig, related to ananodizing process, hangs the housing by the first recess during theanodizing process.
 18. The portable communication device of claim 11,wherein the first and second recesses are formed such that a jig,related to an anodizing process, hangs the housing by the first andsecond recesses during the anodizing process.